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Friday January 20, 2006 01:08
by John Meehan
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Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 5 4 3 2 1First of all, I am not a direct follower of Leon Trotsky. I am not a member of the 4th international (in any of its factions). “Trotwatch” may wish to note that the USFI is actually involved in RESPECT.
There can be little doubt but that the tone of the article underlines one mans homophobia. I see that he has now apologised, but to me it is unsatisfactory that someone so far up the respect chain should express such offensive views. The article was more than an attack on Tatchell. The author suggests that having a gay leader (Malcolm X) is something for a community to be righteously upset about.
The separation of church and state should be as much an objective of socialists as it is presented of liberals. We should be as quick to unite with liberals in demanding women’s/gay/abortion rights as we are to unite with the individual religious against war and poverty.
As I said before, the left should unite with itself after a model such as the SSP – not with assorted worshipers and a cigar-smoking messiah in an uncritical model such as Respect.
18-Jan-2006
Marc Shoffman
A high profile Respect Party member has apologised for causing any distress towards gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, for comments made in a newspaper column last week.
However, he stood by his comments labelling Mr Tatchell as one of Britain’s “most hate filled bigots” insisting it was a personal comment and by no means aimed at the gay community.
Gay rights group, Outrage, demanded an apology for Adam Yosef’s article in Asian weekly newspaper, Desi Express, which they feel incited violence and homophobia towards their leader.
Mr Yosef today insisted his words suggesting “Mr Tatchell needs a good slap,” were a figure of speech. He apologised for causing any distress but stood by claims that the activist was a bigot, he said: “I would like to stress that in no way are the comments an incitement of violence being instigated against Mr Tatchell. I do not support or promote any such violence.”
“The complete feature also included Nick Griffin of the BNP and Omar Bakri Mohammed of Al-Muhajiroun and all comments relating to them displayed a similar tone."
“The section relating to Mr Tatchell was exclusively about Mr Tatchell as a public figure and not in any way an attack on the gay community.”
Desi Express also released an apology stating, “We would like to apologise to Peter Tatchell and the gay community for the offence and distress caused by comments written by Adam Yosef.”
“As a publication we do not have any prejudicial views against the gay community and the comments which appeared were personal opinions of Adam Yosef and do not represent the views of the publication.”
I think that the SSP model offers a much better way forward for the left than Respect. It is a model with open factions and internal disagreement. It is also a composite of secular, socialist groups. I think that over time, this model can amount to more than the “same old faces” that kick-start such a project.
Since I first heard about Respect being formed (in November 2003), I have had serious misgivings about the nature of the group. Its tactic seems to be short-term electoral gain at all costs. While winning elections is fantastic, it cannot be seen as an end in itself by socialists.
As a socialist, I have no issue with joining people of any faith in a legitimate struggle. Saying that, I do not think that the left should join in a close electorial alliance with religious reactionaries.
Attached below is an article by the press officer to Salma Yaqoob, the vice-chair of Respect. It is a nasty piece of work indeed. For me, it highlights one of the reasons why the left should unite with itself, before uniting in any way with groups like the MAB or the Brotherhood.
_____________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Yosef#Attitude_to_gay_rights
http://www.desixpress.co.uk
Jan 6th - Jan 12th 2006 DesiXpress | 19
COLUMNIST Adam Yosef
HATE-FILLED BIGOTS
VILE
PETER TATCHELL
Who is the toss-pot?
Controversial Peter Tatchell, nearly 54, heads radical gay organisation Outrage!
What's he do?
Self-appointed Australian-born `representative' of the UK gay community even though most gays don't agree with him or like him and his whining. Generally attacks religious institutions and likes getting beat up...
Who does he hate?
Religious folk, `fundamentalist' Muslims (which is how most of the devout identify themselves), anyone who may not agree with all of his w*nk views.
What's the hate-mongerer up to?
Currently accusing the Stop the War Coalition, a peace umbrella organisation, of supporting right-wing extremist Muslims. He believes the likes of George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob (who describes herself as a fundamentalist) are homophobes and has accused Dr Naseem in Brum of the same. Is believed to spread
proaganda to counter the Respect party. Claims to be a member of the Green Party after leaving Labour.
What sh*t does he rant?
"Gay venues could be bombed by Islamic terrorists. All gay bars and clubs should introduce bag and body searches. Muslim fundamentalists have a violent hatred of lesbians and gay men. They believe we should be killed." Also waffles on about Muslims being given more political voting cred than gays and upset the black community by claiming Malcolm X was gay.
What others say:
"It can be argued that over the years Ken Livingstone's record on empowering Gay and Lesbian Rights is more impressive than Peter Tatchell's, which frankly, at times, has been more self-indulgent than effective." - Member of LGBT Muslim group Imaan. Another member described Outrage! as "racists".
Verdict:
Needs a good slap in the face to help him figure out what he stands for and whom he represents. Maybe he should attempt arresting Mugabe again, that would be worth seeing...
Time he realised his craving for attention will not in any way help the gay community and so him and his queer campaign army should pack their bent bags and head back to Australia...where hate and racism seems to be back in style.
_____________________________________
On respect and the ongoing "crisis"
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/608/galloway.htm
another one in last weeks on reaction to BB within respect and swp.
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/607/galloway.htm
I for one would be far more comfortable in a party with definite structes than a celebrity style party where unelected leaders have nothing to prevent them making mistakes or breaking the party line. I don't think respect will survive anyway, whenever GG decides to speak in the parliment or outside he'll probably be laughed off the stage. But he is an extreme example to what can happen without a real party structure and can be something to think about in Ireland. Any party too would have to be federal in structure, otherwise I couldn't imagine the Sp getting involved.